Combination valve and speaking diaphragm unit

ABSTRACT

A TUBULAR MEMBER ADAPTED TO EXTEND ACROSS THE FRONT OF A BREATHING MASK IS PROVIDED IN ITS FRONT AND BACK WITH CENTRAL OPENINGS. THE BACK OPENING IS FORMED FOR CONNECTION TO THE INLET OF THE MASK, BUT A SPEAKING DIAPHRAGM IS MOUNTED IN THE FRONT OPENING. AN EXHALATION TUBE, THE FRONT END OF WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE TUBULAR MEMBER AROUND THE FRONT OPENING, EXTENDS THROUGH THE BACK OPENING FOR CONNECTION TO THE OUTLET OF A NOSE CUP IN THE MASK. INHALATION AND EXHALATION VALVES ARE MOUNTED IN OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE TUBULAR MEMBER, AND THE PORTION OF THE EXHALATION TUBE INSIDE THAT MEMBER COMMUNICATES ONLY WITH THE EXHALATION VALVE. INHALATION IS THROUGH THE SPACE BETWEEN THE EXHALATION TUBE AND THE TUBULAR MEMBER, WHILE EXHALATION IS THROUGH THE EXHALATION TUBE.

Mimh 23, 1971 LAWSE 3,572,332

GOMBINATION VALVE AND SPEAKING DIAPHRAGM UNIT Filed April 29, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

LAYTOA/ 4. W/si maem wwmoh ATTORNEYS COMBINATION VALVE AND SPEAKING DIAPHRAGM UNIT Filed April 29. 1969 March 23,1971

'3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 2 xi 5 w 2 m H a 6 3 m 6 u 0 3 u m 2 M n ,f if M. H n 6 I 4 v .Ir 1%: YM ll m m L w: 24 M v a W a A 3 2 6 .Q g "a :8 E D 31w P F2 3 L. A. WISE March 23, 1971 COMBINATION VALVE AND SPEAKING DIAPHRAGM UNIT Filed April 29. 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ZAYTO/V A l'V/Si United States Patent Olhce 3,572,332 Patented Mar. 23, 1971 3,572,332 COMBINATION VALVE AND SPEAKING DIAPHRAGM UNIT Layton A. Wise, Washington, Pa., assignor to Mine Safety Appliances Company, Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed Apr. 29, 1969, Ser. No. 820,070 Int. Cl. A62b 7/00 US. Cl. 128-142-4- Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tubular member adapted to extend across the front of a breathing mask is provided in its front and back with central openings. The back opening is formed for connection to the inlet of the mask, but a speaking diaphragm is mounted in the front opening. An exhalation tube, the front end of which is connected to the tubular member around the front opening, extends through the back opening for connection to the outlet of a nose cup in the mask. Inhalation and exhalation valves are mounted in opposite ends of the tubular member, and the portion of the exhalation tube inside that member communicates only with the exhalation valve. Inhalation is through the space between the exhalation tube and the tubular member, while exhalation is through the exhalation tube.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a combination valve and speaking diaphragm unit which has separate passages for inhalation and exhalation and a check valve for each passage, which is relative y compact and light in weight, and in which a basic check valve construction can be used either as an inhalation or an exhalation valve.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view, partly in section, of breathing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged longitudinal sections taken on the lines III-III and IVIV, respectively, of FIG. 2;

-FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the combination unit; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the versatility of the check valve body.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a breathing mask 1 of more or less conventional form is provided inside with a nose cup 2 to fit snugly around the nose and mouth. The lower portion of the mask is provided with an inlet opening encircled by a forwardly and downwardly extending flexible flange 3. This opening registers with an outlet opening 4 in the lower part of the nose cup. Extending rearwardly away from the opposite sides of the flanged inlet opening are inlet ducts 6 that open into the mask. The nose cup is provided with inlets normally closed by check valves 7. Air enters the mask through ducts 6 and then enters the nose cup through the check valves. Exhaled air leaves through the nose cup outlet 4 and the flanged opening of the mask.

In accordance with this invention, a combination valve and speaking diaphragm unit is attached to the mask at its flanged inlet opening to direct air into and out of the proper channels in the mask. This unit includes a breathing tube in the form of a tubular member 10 that extends across the front of the mask and that is provided centrally with front and back openings. Projecting from the back of this member around the back opening 11 is a rigid flange 12 that is inserted in the mask inlet, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, where it is gripped by the mask flange 3. A clamp 13 may encircle the latter in order to hold the two flanges tightly together. This clamp is in front of the mask inlet ducts 6, and the portion of flange 12 behind the duct inlets is provided with lateral openings 14 (FIGS. 3 and 5) registering with those inlets.

Mounted in the front opening of tubular member 10 is a speaking diaphragm 16 as shown in FIG. 3. The front end of a rigid inhalation tube 17 is joined to the tubular member around the diaphragm. This tube extends rearwardly out of the back opening 11 of the tubular member and projects from the rear end of flange 12. The rear end of the tube is shaped to be inserted in nose cup outlet 4 and to be sealed therein. Consequently, the nose cup outlet is in direct communication with the tube and with the speaking diaphragm at its front end. At least the major portion of the tube is spaced inwardly from the encircling flange 12 and the wall of back opening 11 in order to provide a space between them. Preferably, the tube is concentric with the back opening as shown in FIG. 4. The rear end of the space between the inhalation tube and the encircling flange is closed by a back wall 18. The portion of the inhalation tube inside tubular member 10 is provided with a lateral outlet opening 19 that is surrounded by a short flange 20 which connects the opening with one end of the tubular member and helps support the tube in that member.

It will be seen that with this arrangement there is a passage from one end of the tubular member into the space around the inhalation tube and then out through openings 14 and into the inlet ducts 6 of the mask. Another passage extends from the nose cup through the inhalation tube and out through its outlet 19 and the other end of the tubular member. In order to direct air in the proper paths through this unit a check valve is mounted in each end of tubular member 10. The valve 22 in the end of that member which communicates with the inside of the inhalation tube is an exhalation valve, while the other valve 23- is an inhalation valve. The result is that the two valves and the speaking diaphragm are carried by the short tubular member which is inserted in the front of the mask. Only the central portion of the tubular member is enlarged.

Another feature of this invention resides in the construction of the inhalation and exhalation valves. The valves are made from cups which initially are identical and interchangeable, They can be inserted in the ends of the tubular member. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, each cup has a cylindrical side wall 25 and a base 26 perpendicular to the axis of the cup. The opposite end of the cup is encircled by a flange 27 that limits the distance the valve can be inserted in the tubular member. The base of the cup is provided with an opening 28 for passage of air and with valve seats 29 and 30 at opposite ends of the opening. The opening has a flat side, between which and the adjacent side of the cup the base is provided with one or more openings 31 (FIG. 4) through it that receive headed pins 32 holding a flexible valve flap 33 against one or the other of the valve seats, depending upon whether the flap is inside or outside the cup. Thus, with the same cup, a flap can be placed against either valve seat. Normally, the pins would be cemented in the holes in the cup base. If the flap is inside the cup, the valve is the exhalation valve, while if the flap is outside, the inhalation valve is formed.

In order to avoid inserting the valves in the wrong ends of the tubular member, the outside of each cup is provided with a plurality of parallel ribs extending parallel to the axis of the cup. To be able to use cups for either valve, there should be three ribs originally. As illustrated in FIG. 6, one rib 35 is spaced a greater distance from the center rib 36 than is the other rib 37. On all cups, the ribs are in the same positions relative to one another. The inside of one end of tubular member 10 is provided with a pair of parallel grooves spaced apart the same distance as only two of the ribs on a valve cup, while the inside of the other end of the tubular member is provided with two parallel grooves spaced the same distance apart as the third rib is spaced from one of the other ribs. When an exhalation valve is made, the rib is removed that would not fit in either of the two grooves in the exhalation end of the tubular member. A different rib has to be removed from the inhalation valve in order for the two remaining ribs to fit in the grooves in the inlet end of the tubular member. This prevents the valves from being inserted in the wrong ends of that member. For example, rib 37 can be removed from the inhalation valve, and rib 35 removed from the exhalation valve.

By requiring only one form of valve body for both types of valves, their cost can be reduced because only one mold is needed. The valve flap can be placed against either seat with equal ease. It takes only a moment to remove the appropriate rib from the outside of the valve cup.

I claim:

1. A combination valve and speaking diaphragm unit for a breathing mask that has an inlet and is provided with a nose cup having an outlet, said unit comprising a tubular member adapted to extend across the front of such a mask and provided in its front and back with central openings, said member having a flange surrounding the back opening and extending rearwardly therefrom for insertion in the mask inlet, a speaking diaphragm in the front opening, an exhalation tube extending through said back opening and projecting rearwardly therefrom for connection to the nose cup outlet, at least the major portion of said tube being spaced inwardly from said flange and the wall of said back opening to provide a space between them, the rear end of said space being closed and said flange having a lateral opening therethrough for connecting said space with the inside of the mask, the front end of the tube being connected to the tubular member around said front opening, an exhalation valve mounted in one end of the tubular member, and an inhalation valve mounted in the opposite end of said member, the portion of said tube inside said tubular member having a lateral outlet opening communicating only with said exhalation valve.

2. A unit according to claim 1, in which the central 4 portion of said tubular member containing said front and back openings is enlarged relative to its end portions.

3, A unit according to claim 1, in which each of said valves comprises a cup inserted in an end of said tubular member, the base of the cup being perpendicular to the axis of said member and provided with an opening for passage of air, a flexible flap normally covering one end of said opening, and means securing the flap to the cup at one side of the opening.

4. A unit according to claim 1, in which each of said valves comprises a cup inserted in an end of said tubular member, the base of the cup being perpendicular to the axis of said member and provided with an opening for passage of air, said base at each end of said opening being provided with a valve seat and having a hole therethrough at one side of the opening, a flexible flap normally engaging one of said seats, and a pin extending through the flap and extending into said hole for securing the flap to the cup, said pin being insertable from either end of the hole so that the flap can be placed against either valve seat.

5. A unit according to claim 4, in which the outside of each of said cups is provided with a plurality of parallel ribs extending lengthwise of said tubular member, the ribs on one cup being spaced a different distance apart than those on the other cup, said cups being substantially identical except for the positions of said ribs, and each end of said tubular member being provided with parallel grooves positioned to receive the ribs on only the adjoining valve cup.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,066 7/ 1954 Glidden. 2,835,250 5/1958 Austin.

3,348,537 10/1967 Miller et a1.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner J. B. MITCHELL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. l28141 

